Who Is Lisa Parker?

Lisa Parker was a teacher, a coach, a leader, a friend. Commonly referred to as ‘Miss Lisa’ or ‘LP’, her involvement in collegiate athletics served an entire spectrum, from student-athlete to head coach to athletic director. But, it was her courage and vibrant personality, even in the face of insurmountable odds, that set her apart from others.

To better understand who Lisa Parker is, we fast forward to what she went through. In the fall of 2006, while seemingly at the peak of her athletic administration career as Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women’s Administrator at Boise State University, Lisa was struck with a life changing obstacle. The cancer must have begun some time before, but didn’t show itself until October that year on a camping and fishing trip in the mountains of Idaho. Lisa didn’t even feel bad, more bothered by a nagging cough. The following week, a visit to her doctor revealed a much more serious problem. No way to sugarcoat the news, bottom line, “you have terminal, inoperable cancer with one to three months to live”.

On June 20, 2008, Lisa Parker passed away quietly with her husband, Corky, at her side in their Boise, Idaho home. It was not a one month span. It was a 20 month journey in which Lisa fought as hard as anyone could fight. During the course of her illness, Corky, was with her caring for her and supporting her. Likewise, amazingly, she ended up doing the same for him. It was just her way. To the very end, Lisa refused the urge to quit. Quitting wasn’t a lesson she had ever learned.

“Over that period of time, I learned what real friends and family were,” said Corky. “It was the support of these people that kept us going on days it just seemed impossible to go on any further. It was then that I also understood what Lisa’s work was about.”

Lisa was the ultimate student-athlete, graduating Magna Cum Laude with both a bachelor’s and masters degree from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, competing on the basketball team. After graduation, LP worked toward her postgraduate doctorial studies at the University of Kentucky, where she began her career in athletics as an assistant women’s basketball coach. She helped guide the team to back to back 20-plus win seasons, a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a Women’s NIT championship.

Lisa then expanded her coaching experience as an assistant at Colorado State University, where she furthered an already strong foundation and love for athletics. Always willing to accept a challenge, Lisa then served eight years as the head women’s basketball coach, senior women’s administrator and athletic director of Colorado Christian University, an NCAA Division II program in Denver.

At the helm, Colorado Christian basketball team recorded more wins on the court than ever before. Their record brought recognition to the program and the university, but Lisa was most proud of a different statistic: during her tenure as athletic director, the school’s sports programs had the highest retention and graduation rates as well as its highest grade point average all eight years she was there. As a result of her work, Lisa was named one of the top 20 most powerful women in Colorado by the Denver Post.

In 2003, Lisa and Corky moved to Boise, becoming Boise State’s senior associate athletic director and senior women’s administrator, the highest ranking female administrator within the Division I program. Among her responsibilities, she served as liaison to all university offices, including those of the President and Faculty Athletic Representative. She served on various committees, ranging from the Intercollegiate Athletic Advisory Committee to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to the Campus Climate Task Force. Additionally, Lisa was selected in 2004 to represent the Western Region of the NCAA on the prestigious NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee. This highly regarded committee is responsible for the selection, seeding and bracketing of the 64 basketball teams playing in the NCAA Division I National Tournament.

While Lisa’s work did not necessarily define her life, it spoke volumes about who she was and what she valued. She always considered her accessibility to her student athletes paramount. No matter how great the problem, numerous student-athletes derived comfort from the fact they wouldn’t have to face their dilemmas alone.

As one longtime friend put it, “Lisa didn’t lose her battle with cancer, she just ran out of time on the game clock.”

Lisa never quit. That is who Lisa Parker was and is.